What to Do in Salthill Beach, Galway for 3 Days: A Seaside Irish Adventure That Won't Leave You Drowning in Regrets

Your 72-Hour Blueprint: What to Do in Salthill Beach, Galway for 3 Days Without Wasting a Single Irish Minute

Wondering what to do in Salthill Beach, Galway for 3 days? Consider this your treasure map to the gold that lies beyond the predictable tourist traps. Unlike that “authentic” Irish pub in Times Square, this guide actually delivers on its promises—minus the inflated prices and questionable accents.

Day 1: The Salthill Baptism—Promenades, Plunges, and Pints

Begin your Salthill adventure with the obligatory promenade walk—all 2 miles of it. Morning is ideal, when the only competition for space comes from dedicated local power-walkers in their sixties who will absolutely smoke you pace-wise while simultaneously carrying on full conversations without breaking a sweat. The route offers panoramic views of Galway Bay with the misty humps of the Aran Islands in the distance, looking like sleeping giants who pulled the covers of fog over themselves.

Halfway through your walk, you’ll encounter the Blackrock Diving Tower, a concrete platform built in the 1950s that serves as Salthill’s version of an extreme sport. Between 11am and 1pm, when the tide is high, locals of all ages launch themselves into the Atlantic with the casual nonchalance of people whose blood apparently runs several degrees warmer than the average human’s. The water rarely exceeds 60F even in August, making this less of a “must-do” and more of a “must-observe” activity for most Americans unless you’re training for a polar bear plunge back home.

For lunch, O’Reilly’s Bar andamp; Restaurant offers Galway Bay oysters for $15-20 that taste like the Atlantic decided to distill its essence into small, slippery packages of briny perfection. If seafood isn’t your thing, The Creamery serves sandwiches that manage to make even simple ham and cheese taste revolutionary for around $12.

Spend your afternoon exploring Salthill’s string of small beaches, each with distinct personalities. Ladies Beach offers the softest sand and calmest waters, while Blackrock Beach provides dramatic waves and more pebbles than a rock collector’s wildest dreams. If the infamous Irish rain makes an appearance, Leisureland’s indoor pool complex ($10 admission) offers aquatic entertainment without the hypothermia risk.

As evening falls, O’Connor’s Famous Pub beckons—yes, the very establishment where Ed Sheeran filmed “Galway Girl,” a fact they’re contractually obligated to mention every seven minutes. Despite the fame, it remains authentically local, with walls cluttered with maritime memorabilia and bartenders who can pour a perfect Guinness while simultaneously solving your life problems. Note that unlike American establishments, Irish pubs welcome children until about 9pm, after which the conversation gets progressively less suitable for young ears.

Day 2: Beyond the Beach—City Escapes and Island Dreams

Day two of what to do in Salthill Beach, Galway for 3 days takes you slightly farther afield. The morning deserves a 30-minute stroll (or 10-minute, $2.50 bus ride) into Galway City proper, where you’ll discover the best things to do in Galway beyond the beach. The Spanish Arch, a remnant of the city walls dating back to 1584, stands as a testament to historical periods when walls were built for actual defense rather than political statements. Nearby Shop Street pulses with buskers whose talent ranges from “future Grammy winner” to “enthusiastic but perhaps tone-deaf.”

If you’ve timed your visit for a weekend, lunch at the Galway Market (operating since 1172, making your local farmers market seem like a trendy newcomer) offers international cuisine for $10-15. The falafel stand creates sandwiches that somehow taste better while eaten standing up, dodging other tourists and locals in a delicate hunger-fueled dance.

For your afternoon, two options present themselves. The ambitious might take a ferry to the Aran Islands from nearby Rossaveel ($40 round trip, 40-minute drive from Salthill), entering a world where sheep outnumber humans, sweaters outnumber both, and the 2,000-year-old stone forts make American “historic” sites seem like they were built last Tuesday—part of what makes this one of the best things to do in Ireland for history buffs. If island-hopping exceeds your energy reserves, Salthill’s Atlantaquaria (National Aquarium of Ireland, $15 admission) showcases native marine species in an intimate setting that makes up in charm what it lacks in whale sharks.

Dinner calls for a step up from pub grub. The Galleon Restaurant offers seafood platters ($30-35) caught so locally you might have waved to the fishing boats that morning. Vegetarians aren’t an afterthought here, with options that go beyond the sad pasta primavera that plagues so many restaurant menus.

Cap the evening with traditional Irish music at The Crane Bar, where sessions typically kick off around 9:30pm. Unlike staged performances for tourists, these authentic gatherings feature musicians who appear to be having more fun than the audience, yet somehow everyone leaves smiling. The music follows no setlist, flowing organically between mournful ballads about dying for Ireland and upbeat jigs that make your feet tap involuntarily.

Day 3: Active Adventures and Hidden Corners

The final day of what to do in Salthill Beach, Galway for 3 days begins with options for the brave: sea swimming in waters that Irish people describe as “refreshing” and Americans describe as “dear god why.” The Blackrock morning swimming group welcomes visitors to join their daily 7am dip, offering the dual benefits of bragging rights and the fact that your body will be so focused on not freezing that jet lag won’t stand a chance.

After your polar adventure (or after watching others while clutching hot coffee), explore Salthill’s coffee culture. Ground andamp; Co serves caffeine strong enough to resurrect the dead, or at least make even the most jet-lagged American feel temporarily human again. Their breakfast bagels ($8-10) provide the carb cushion necessary after any Atlantic encounter.

For your final afternoon, consider a half-day trip to nearby Connemara or venture further to explore other coastal gems like the things to do in Kilkee along the Wild Atlantic Way. The landscape resembles coastal Maine but with 50% more sheep and 100% more ancient stone walls. Tour buses run daily ($30-50) or local buses provide cheaper transport for the more adventurous. If you’re planning to explore more of the southwest, consider extending your trip to discover the incredible things to do in Killarney National Park. For those preferring to stay local, the Circle of Life Garden (free) offers a contemplative space commemorating organ donors, with sculpture installations and views that prompt philosophical musings about mortality—in the most uplifting Irish way possible.

Your final Salthill evening deserves a splurge. Lonergan’s Bar andamp; Restaurant offers a “last supper” worthy of the name ($50-70 per person), with dishes that showcase why Irish cuisine has evolved far beyond boiled potatoes. Request a window table for sunset views over Galway Bay that will make your Instagram followers simultaneously jealous and geographically confused (“Wait, Ireland has beaches?”).

Where to Rest Your Salthill-Weary Bones

Budget travelers find haven at Rathview House Bandamp;B ($80-100/night), where the Irish breakfast alone justifies the price tag. You haven’t experienced eggs until you’ve had them alongside black and white pudding—a culinary experience that’s best not researched until after consumption.

Mid-range budgets open doors to Salthill Hotel ($120-180/night), where an ocean-view room costs about $30 more than standard accommodations but delivers million-dollar sunrise panoramas. The difference between waking up to Galway Bay versus a parking lot cannot be overstated.

Luxury seekers should book Galway Bay Hotel ($200+/night), where rooms feature beds comfortable enough to make you question your mattress choices back home and bathrooms larger than many New York apartments. Their spa offers treatments incorporating seaweed harvested from the waters visible from your window—a farm-to-facial experience.

Airbnb options cluster in the Upper Salthill area, averaging $150/night for entire apartments. The sweet spot lies about three blocks back from the promenade—close enough for easy beach access but far enough to avoid the 7am sounds of enthusiastic power-walkers commenting loudly on the day’s weather prospects. For a comprehensive guide to choosing your perfect location, check out the best area to stay in Galway for first-time visitors.

Regardless of budget, booking 3-4 months in advance is non-negotiable during summer season (June-August), when accommodation prices surge by 30-40% and availability plummets faster than temperatures in an Irish autumn.